Yesterday, Paul exhorted the church to live well, ready for every good work. Today, he reminds us of who we once were before Christ rescued us. Paul draws our attention to how the Gospel is central to our ability to live ready for every good work.

In our highly individualistic culture, sometimes we find ourselves guilty of pride and vanity; we are quick to forget the reality of who we once were before Christ rescued us. It is easy to think that we were pretty good on our own. In fact, our culture prides itself in thinking that we can be good people without God. Paul challenges that idea and invites us to consider our true state without Christ and by extension the state of those who are still lost.

Praise God that He did not leave us on our own, but Christ rescued us from who we once were and is transforming us through the Spirit who dwells in us!

[Titus 3.3]

3.3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ How does Paul describe us before Christ rescued us?

+ Notice the language of slavery. What does it look like to be enslaved to passions and pleasures?

+ Notice how divisive these are to flourishing in community. What causes malice and envy in you?

+ Notice the language of hatred. In what ways does enslavement to passions, malice, and envy breed hatred in us or cause us to be hated by others?

+ What does this passage say about who we were apart from Christ?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Do I see and accept my bankruptcy before Christ rescued me?

+ Do I need to confess my pride and self-reliance?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ How does this motivate me to love and witness to my unbelieving friends and family in a different way?